Independent Operator - Ole Mexican Foods, INC

At Ole, our mission is to produce the finest Authentic Mexican inspired products with an unwavering commitment to quality and freshness. We believe that holding a seat at your dinner table is the ultimate compliment, and we strive to help families create wholesome, fun, and authentic eating experiences.

Job Summary:

The Independent Operator is responsible for the growth of sales of assigned routes. The ideal candidate will establish, maintain, and develop business, social and civic relationships with customers in the assigned route or routes to maximum profitability.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with store managers, and key customer decision makers.
• Ensure the company drivers understand the expectation and communicate how he/she will execute and align the goals of the organization. This includes weekly updates. Send all training documentation to the Human Resources Department.
• Ensure sales expectations are met, while delivering high quality customer service to various customer accounts.
• Identify leads, manage prospects, and acquire new business.
• Travel to customers and potential customer’s facilities providing them with information and support as required to secure and maintain business.
• Grow business by anticipating customer needs, determine appropriate solutions to business problems, and provide an overall high level of customer service.
• Establish, and maintain, call frequency on major retail chain District Managers to support sales and service levels.
• Build rapport and trust with all store key management personnel through frequent visits and communication.
• Prepare tailored selling plan with in-depth knowledge of specific retail customer and full product portfolio to influence growth opportunities.
• Follow through on agreed upon sales/service commitments to exceed store management expectations.
• Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of company products and pricing structure.
• Manage assigned company-generated leads.
• Complete scheduled and in-person prospecting activities to establish first and follow-up appointments with key decision makers.
• Communicate weekly (or daily) with Division Sales Manager on sales activities, progress on goals, and status of prospective customers.
• Periodically visit stores to identify service strengths and opportunities.
• Ensure weekly customer visits to negotiate ads and gain more space/displays; minimum of 2 visits per week.
• Attend grand openings and store anniversaries.
• Review weekly Out-of-Stock (OOS) report to adequately address deficiencies.
• Use effective Time Management Skills to service stores and establish customer relationships with all customers accordingly. This is a critical issue with our major customers. Our customers must have someone to contact if there are issues in their stores.
• Establish a plan in case you need to organize, re-route, or run a route, if needed. Ensure route paperwork is organized.
• Ensure stores are well serviced without credits.
• Follow all procedures on the three steps to get in the back of truck or get out.
• Attend all weekly required safety meetings.
• Ensure all equipment is in good-working condition.
• Ensure truck inventory is in compliance.
• Make sure all company procedures are followed including the policy on personal hygiene.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Must be able to work in doors as well as outdoors while visiting customers.
• Must be able to always work with different types of customers while in stores. This will include the store greeters as well as all back store receivers.
• Must be able to carry 20 to 40 pounds.
• Must be able to always maintain vehicle and/or truck clean.
• Must adhere to all safety measures including always wearing a back brace support while picking up cases; bending of knees to organize the product in some stores may be required.

Education and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred, but not required.
• 1+ years’ experience in Retail or field-based sales role.
• Knowledge of basic computer functions, (downloading documents, email, internet, Microsoft Word, etc.)
• Effective communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and display a professional demeanor representing clients.
• Ability to communicate timely with Management through phone or email.
• Experience using personal access to functional tools such as Smart phone or Smart pad and computer.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, full coverage auto insurance, and a clean MVR record.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred.

Skills:

• Self-motivated Sales team member
• Strong leadership skills
• Communication Proficiency
• Organization Skills
• Decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Time management skills (organize, prioritize, set goals, communicate and plan-out)